Fighting Anti-Black Racism - Resources for TSTN Members
What is Anti-Black Racism?
Anti-Black Racism is defined as policies and practices rooted in Canadian institutions such as education, health care, and justice that mirror and reinforce beliefs, attitudes, prejudice, stereotyping and/or discrimination towards people of Black-African descent.
The term ‘Anti-Black Racism’ was first expressed by Dr. Akua Benjamin, a Ryerson Social Work Professor. It seeks to highlight the unique nature of systematic racism on Black-Canadians and the history as well as experiences of slavery and colonization of people of Black-African descent in Canada.
How can we fight Anti-Black Racism?
Acknowledge Anti-Black Racism exists and that it has an impact on the lives and well-being of Black-Canadians.
Eliminating Anti-Black Racism requires support from all levels of government, institutions, businesses, schools, healthcare, social services, community agencies and individuals.
Take a look at how or if you, your department, your team is being inclusive and easily accessible to Black Canadians.
When governments, healthcare and social service organizations, employees and community members work together to eliminate Anti-Black Racism in education and beyond, all Canadians benefit. Join TSTN as we work together to accomplish this goal.
Below is a collection of resources and links we hope that you will find engaging and informative. Please continue to check this page for updates and feel free to get in touch with us at tstn@tdsb.on.ca if you have any comments, questions, or recommendations.
WATCH: Responding to Anti-Black Racism in the Workplace - TDSB Human Rights Office
Our sincere thanks to the Human Rights Office for partnering with TSTN on this initiative - especially Ros Salvador, Gilary Massa Machado, Christopher Williams, Precious Sidambe & Irit Kelman.
READ: Anti-Black Racism Reading List
This is a selection, not an exhaustive list, of books recommended by the University of Toronto on the topics of anti-Black racism and violence in Canada, Black resistance, race & health equity, and educating against anti-Black racism. These categories are not mutually exclusive, as the histories of Black life, discrimination, and resistance are rich and complex.
Links below are to the TDSB Professional Library (where applicable) and Toronto Public Library.
Anti-Black Racism and Violence in Canada
Black Resistance
Educating Against Anti-Black Racism
LEARN: Online Learning Resources
Expected Practices for Understanding, Addressing and Preventing Discrimination - Brochure (TDSBweb)
Human Rights Office - Contact Information (TDSBweb)
Percipio
Percipio provides TDSB staff with flexible learning opportunities to continually gain new skills and knowledge. The links below will navigate you to https://tdsb.percipio.com - if logged into a TDSB computer, you are automatically connected. If at home or on a non-TDSB computer, you will have to login with your TDSB email address.
Expert Insights on Unconscious Bias -Dealing with unconscious bias, gender bias, microaggressions (20m, 53s)
Expert Insights on Diversity & Inclusion - The importance of diversity, how inclusive leaders create workplace diversity (1hr, 30m)
Leadercamp: Leading Inclusively - In the wake of a global pandemic and tragic events leading to widespread civil unrest, organizations of all sizes need bold leaders at every level. Are you ready to eliminate racism, discrimination, and bias in the workplace?
External Links
How to Be a Better Ally to Your Black Colleagues - Harvard Business Review (July 8, 2020)
Racial Equity Tools Glossary - Language is important. This glossary provides basic definitions for many of the terms you’ll come across.
LISTEN: Informative Podcasts to Learn About Race
Code Switch
Launched in 2016, this weekly show from National Public Radio (NPR) is a pioneer of the podcast platform and features a revolving door or journalists of colour sharing their thoughts on race from every angle. Whether it’s through a pop culture, historical, or political lens, race is the cornerstone of all conversations.
The New York Times’ 1619
Spearheaded by The New York Times reporter and Pulitzer Prize winner, Nikole Hannah-Jones, this New York Times-produced audio series digs deep into America’s ugly history: chattel slavery. Marking the 400th anniversary of the first slaves brought to Virginia, this 2019 project connects the past to the present through captivating storytelling and vivid depictions beginning with the arrival of slave ships on U.S. shores.
Yo, Is This Racist?
Every Wednesday, listeners can get a dose of reality with a side of humour from this popular blog turned podcast. Hosted by writer Andrew Ti and actress Tawny Newsome, the show centers around listener-submitted questions about whether or not their statements or actions constitute being racist. Newsflash: If you have to ask, then it probably is. The unique series manages to answer these racially sensitive inquiries with bluntness and unmatched wit. Listen and learn.
STREAM: Movies & Documentaries About Race - Start the Conversation
Below are a few recommended films about racism and the civil rights movement. If you don’t already seek out films by Black creators, there’s no time like the present moment. In a time when many of us are looking for ways to combat racism in our society, diversifying our entertainment diet is one small, but meaningful step. Links are provided to streaming services where available, but all movies are available to rent through Google, Amazon, or the Toronto Public Library.
13th
By shining a light on the prison system, this Emmy Award-winning documentary by Ava DuVernay reveals the connections between mass incarceration and racial inequality in the U.S. If you’ve never given the connections between slavery and prisons much thought, this stunning documentary will open your eyes.
I Am Not Your Negro
James Baldwin passed away before he had a chance to finish Remember This House, a manuscript that examined race in America through his memories of Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Medgar Evers. This powerful film, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, finishes the story.
The Hate U Give
Based on the bestselling YA novel by Angie Thomas, this movie follows Starr’s journey into activism after she witnesses her best friend Khalil’s death at the hands of police. Starr is straddling two worlds, as a student at a prep school who lives in an underprivileged neighbourhood. It’s a powerful film that’s sadly timely today.
Fruitvale Station
In a heavy but necessary film, Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan tell the true story of Oscar Grant, killed by police on the BART subway system. He’s a son, a father, and a partner to his girlfriend, and his story deserves to be told.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Adapted from Rebecca Skloot’s best-selling nonfiction book of the same name, this movie tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cancerous cells that were illegally harvested in 1951 have led to profound breakthroughs in medicine. Told through the lens of her daughter Deborah Lacks (Oprah Winfrey), the drama highlights the history of racial discrimination in the medical field and its grave impacts on people of colour, especially Black patients.
When They See Us
Spanning a quarter of a century, When They See Us is a four-part drama directed by Ava DuVernay, which recounts the true stories of Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise, the five men known as the Central Park Five who were wrongfully convicted of rape and spent between five and 12 years behind bars. It’s a must-watch for understanding the gravity of wrongful conviction and the grave impact of coercive interrogations.